Cash levels to EU’s poorest regions ‘must not be reduced’

MEMBER states were this week warned that reducing funds for Europe’s poorest regions would have a “catastrophic” effect.

European Voice

2/25/04, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 9:47 AM CET

Under proposals put forward by the European Commission, the amount spent on regions will rise by 30% to €336 billion over seven years from 2007.

But Xavier Gizard, secretary- general of the Rennes-based Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), said there are fears that some member states, mindful of the need to rein in spending, will seek to cut the figure during negotiations over the EU’s budget up to 2013.

“If that happens, it will have a catastrophic effect on Europe’s regions,” he said.

Gizard was speaking at a conference in Brussels on Monday (23 February), organized by CPMR and other bodies representing towns and regions, to discuss future EU regional policy.

Addressing the conference, Michel Barnier, regional affairs commissioner, outlined plans to give current member states €174bn from 2007-13 and the ten newcomers €140bn. (l22bn has been earmarked for Romania and Bulgaria post-2007.)

Most delegates welcomed the Commission’s plans, but Gizard said that CPMR, which represents 150 regions from Finland to Turkey, had reservations.

In particular, he said the amount of regional aid should have been at least €400bn, adding: “The €336bn should have been much higher. It is insufficient.

“The assistance proposed for regions in new member states is less than in previous enlargements. Regions in current member states are not happy either because they get the impression they won’t receive as much as they would have if enlargement hadn’t taken place.

“Our real fear, though, is that in the current economic climate, some member states, particularly net contributors, will strive to reduce the €336bn.

“If that happens, it will effectively spell the end of regional policy and have an adverse effect on many regions.”